The Wisconsin Idea at 100: Making the Link to Policy

This Spring Symposium offered a discussion of the history of the Wisconsin Idea and its relationship to public policy, with specific examples of how UW-Madison initiatives shaped state, national, and international policy and practice.

Noon: The Evolution of the Wisconsin IdeaJohn Witte, professor of public affairs and political scienceBob Haveman, professor emeritus of public affairs and economics Thomas DeLeire, director of the La Follette School of Public Affairs; associate professor of public affairs and population health sciences1 p.m.: At Risk Families: Family Support and PovertyChild Support Policy:Maria Cancian, associate dean for social sciences in the College of Letters & Science; professor of public affairs and social work Measuring Poverty in Wisconsin:Tim Smeeding, Arts and Science Distinguished Professor of Public Affairs; director, Institute for Research on Poverty Moderator: George Lightbourn, 1976 alum, president of the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute1:45 p.m.: Financial PolicyThe Great Recession:Menzie Chinn, professor of public affairs and economicsFinancial Literacy:J. Michael Collins, assistant professor of Consumer Science; director of the Center for Financial Security Moderator: Eric Fine, La Follette School advisory board member, Portfolio manager, Van Eck G-175 Strategies2:30 p.m.: Wisconsin as LaboratoryWisconsin Longitudinal Study – Implications for Public Health: Pamela Herd, co-director, Wisconsin Longitudinal Study; associate professor of public affairs and sociology Climate Change and Wisconsin Agriculture: Christopher Kucharik, assistant professor of agronomy and environmental studies Moderator: Donald Moynihan, associate director, La FOllette School of Public Affairs3:15 p.m.: Student Policy Analysts Students present examples of outreach and applied policy work: Bethany Ackeret, MPA; Linda Collins, MIPA; Elizabeth Hartjes, MIPA; H.J. Waukau, MIPA. Moderator: David Weimer, professor, La Follette School4 p.m.: The Future of the Wisconsin Idea: How should a world-class public university continue to exemplify the ideals of the Wisconsin Idea? This panel will consider major challenges that must be faced in the coming years, as well as potential models that will ensure continued relevance.

Keynote Panel: Chancellor David Ward; and former chancellor John Wiley, professor of public affairs, and educational leadership and policy analysis